woldy

I'm sneaking in another set of recs before the Yule Balls reveals later today. These four fics and one piece of art centre on a smaller range of characters than my previous set of recs, but each of the pairings is different.

Beautiful Collision (Pansy/Ginny, NC-17 - NWS)
This is a lovely, hot piece of art which shows Pansy's pug nose from canon rather than portraying an identikit pretty face. The uniform is beautifully drawn and rather sexy, but the daydream scene is even better and benefits from being drawn from an unusual angle. A must for Pansy/Ginny fans and those who like their femslash to be smutty, but I'll say again for good measure - decidedly not worksafe.

Egg-Shaped Love (Luna/Cho, NC-17)
I have a soft spot for fics which explore Cho's character and this one does an excellent job while providing just enough details about her past. Perhaps my favourite thing about the fic is the setting in China where Cho is visiting family and Luna is seeking magical beasts, and the author provides lovely details here like their discussion about instant noodles. Although there is a crack-tastic premise about Chinese fireball nests the result is a well-written and emotive first-time sex scene between older characters. A unique & delightful fic.

Unsung by hecticity (Ginny/Luna, PG)
This isn't technically a new fic, but I only found it recently. I love the exploration of Ginny's fear of the darkness and the primal comfort provided by the fire, as well as Luna's soothing and very in-character response to the problem. There's some great language in this story & a nice exploration of Buddhist meditation, but it's also a story about growing up and the balance between independence and loneliness when dealing with a difficult past.

i remember you with my soul clenched by accio_muse (Luna/Pansy, PG-13)
Again this isn't a new story, but I was struck by the pairing and wonderful use of language. Luna/Pansy isn't something I had considered much before but this story makes a lovely case for the pairing since Luna has a way with difficult, slightly dangerous creatures and Pansy is those things if nothing else. The fic shows the vulnerability and brittleness beneath Pansy's snark and Luna is strong whilst retaining her oddness, but best of all it is a story told through the details - Pansy's too-high heels, the smudge of her lipstick and quiver of her lips.

Family (Tonks gen, PG)
Technically I'm cheating by including this fic because it's gen instead of femslash, but I'm hoping nobody will mind too much. This story is a short, powerful exploration of Tonks' family & the background to her decision to become an auror and, later, to fight at Hogwarts. The fic centres around the female characters in the Black family although there is a brief heart-rending appearance by Sirius, and the wonderful narrative voice achieves the difficult task of resuscitating Tonks after JKR's mauling of the character in HBP & DH. Just - yes.

Having recced only two femslash pieces from the Xmas fests thusfar (both of which were my gifts) more recs are clearly due. Luckily, there have been several wonderful femslash pieces amongst the Yule Balls and Fem Exchange fics I've read and each explores different minor pairings.</p>

There are several characteristics that my favourite femslash fics tend to share including the obvious (e.g. good writing and characterization) and less obvious traits such as strong female characters and hints of political themes. Although the fics below are very different from each other, they all share these traits and most of them provide hot, intimate smut besides. But enough rambling – onwards to the fic!

Beyond layers (Minerva/Poppy, R)
This is a lovely piece set in the era of the war against Grindelwald, or what we Muggles think of as World War Two. The fic really captures the feel of the era, from their clothing to the secrecy of war work and provides a delightful account of Minerva and Poppy's contribution to the war effort despite the fact that in the magical world, witches are not permitted to fight. Fantastic, understated writing which culminates in hot, evocative & politicised sex.

Healing (Cho/Tracey, PG)
This is the least smutty of these fics, but the exploration of these minor characters and the difficulties faced by Slytherins after the battle at Hogwarts makes it more than just fluff. The story is set in St Mungos and the atmosphere of the hospital is convincingly written as well as providing the opportunity to see smart, highly competent women at work. We get some great insights into Cho through her interactions with her friends, and the gradual development of Cho & Tracey's relationship is well handled.

Sub Rosa (Millicent/Pansy, NC-17)
This story does a fantastic job of developing Millicent's character, including both her strength and her insecurities, and shows a fascinatingly complex relationship between her and Pansy. Writing Slytherin students during the war requires a light touch, but the author writes Pansy and Millicent as engaging and vulnerable characters while retaining the self-interest and questionable politics that make them authentically Slytherin. Best of all the sex is highly emotionally significant, showing the heart-rending vulnerability of both characters before the battle.

Other Realms (Minerva/Pomona, Rosmerta/Dorcas Meadowes, also James/Sirius & Severus/Regulus, NC-17)
Not many fics combine slash and femslash pairings and it is certainly rare to see the sex written in such a varied and compelling manner, which really contributes to the characterization. Personally, I wasn't wholly convinced by the James/Sirius because I'm really fussy about that pairing, but Minerva/Pomona was wonderfully written and bittersweet, as was the hot, memorable and emotionally intense Severus/Regulus scene. Very much worth a look.

I've evidently been a very good this year, because the fest Santas have brought me two more absolutely wonderful gifts.

First, the amazing Snape/Lupin/another Snape?! fanart POV  (mildly NWS).
There are so many things I love about this Snupin Santa art, starting with the scorching hot kiss between Lupin and the first Snape (alright, it's Tonks in Snape-form - yay subverted Remus/Tonks!). It's a very sexy, evocative pose with Lupin's fist bunched in Snape's hair and Snape's hand curled around Lupin's neck. Then of course there's the real Snape looking on from the doorway, wearing altogether too many clothes and a definite blush. I also love the artist's suggestion that this moment of discovery is the prelude to a threesome with two Snapes, which makes me suspect Lupin planned the whole thing with that intent. This is funny, hot and beautifully drawn, so I recommend it whether or not you are generally a fan of either of the pairings.

Second, the delicious Pansy/Ginny fic Still Hungry  (NC-17)
I requested both snark and smut and this fic delivers both in spades, as well as providing one of the best written Quidditch scenes I've ever read. There's great characterization, innuendo, dirty talk and not least very hot wall!sex in the shower after the match. Um, did I mention hot? In case you need further convincing, here's a snippet:

"You came," Ginny said, and looked away at the needy sound of her voice.

"I did." Ginny's gaze returned to Pansy. Pansy smirked, and then took a step forward, and another, small, tiny steps. Ginny suddenly had an inkling of what a mouse might feel like under the scrutiny of an airborne hawk. Pansy was stalking her.

They'd been playing this weird flirting, catty game over the last few months at bars and parties where they'd continued to cross paths, and Ginny had all but revealed her hand to get Pansy to make a move. It wasn't that Ginny was shy, oh hell no, it was just she wanted to be pursued this time, just this once.

I will probably write up more recs in the next week or so, particularly for femslash fics and art at Fem Exchange and Yule Balls. With all these fests going on it's hard to keep up with the reading, but I'm really not complaining about being so spoilt for choice :-D.

It turns out (and somehow I had forgotten to expect this) that if one writes exchange fics then one receives gifts in return. We're only five days into December and I've received two absolutely wonderful gifts already:

The first is 'NB', a gorgeous piece of Pansy/Ginny art , R-rated & NWS.
Despite the description as 'BDSM-lite' , this drawing isn't obscenely femslashy or terrifyingly kinky - in case you don't like that kind of thing, though perhaps you do. Actually, the art is cute and funny with all sorts of wonderful details like the Weasley-esque clock, the motivational wall posters, their socks, & of course Ginny's 'NB' to herself. I thoroughly recommend it.

My second gift is These Conversations We Aren't Having by gyzym, PG-13.
I like fics that are funny, or angsty, or just beautifully written, but it's a rare treat to find all three at once. Remus' dry observations are great & the dialogue is amusing and authentic, but the interactions between Remus & Sirius centre around the things that carefully aren't being said & the mouldy peas on the floor act as a further reminder. I'm not going to explain about the peas, you'll just have to read it - but unless you hate R/S with a fiery passion I don't think you'll be disappointed.